HIGHLY FRUSTRATED AND CONFUSED WITH PFO HALIDE BALLAST

[b2leopard]

Well if you saw my last post my last PFO ballast shot sparks out at me and died,I had it for 2 years with no problems. I called marine depot and ordered a new 400w eye ballast PFO. I got it on monday and tonight I turn it on it starts to turn on bulb then stops. I thought it was my bulb it is 10 months old so I switched it with an older bulb 12 months old and it was doing same thing starts up but before it gets to full brightness it shuts off. My animals already showed affects with no light for 5 days so who know how soon light will be back on it now. Could it just be the bulbs are old or did I get a lemon. My old ballast is being mailed back to PFO after I contacted them to be repaired. An info would be appreciated

B2

 

[Marcosreef]

Did you check the socket? salt spray could have gotten in there and corroded the contacts. Or maybe the wire cord? A intermittent short could damage the ballast. Check the pins on the cable as well, make sure they are clean and free of deposits...

 

[b2leopard]

Ok I checked the outlet ran ext. cord to another outlet same thing,checked socked no corrosion.no filth in pins. This is a different PFO ballast than the last one,this is the EYE that only runs 6500k,I am just wondering if it has something to do with the older bulb or not

 

[Marcosreef]

:?

 

[Ben1]

When the same thing happened to me it was bad switchs. they were loose so I changed them and have had no more problems. Are your switchs loose feeling or do they flip tight?

 

[Marcosreef]

So many problems with the switch??? Why not use a timer and let that be the switch...It will save you and the ballast...Just a suggestion

http://www.reefs.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=033908

[ February 15, 2002: Message edited by: Marcosreef ]</p>

 

[Ben1]

Of course they were on timers. The problem is the switchs they sent out on some ballast burnt up quickly. The plastic toggle inside the switch overheats and melts, causing the switch to feel loose, its not caused by flipping the switch.

 

[freedom75]

I am experiecing the EXACT same problem. I have a dual 175 Watt PFO Brandnew. The first one sent to me by Marine depot came in and one side was dead. They told me that I would recive a new one. I took 9 days to get it.. Coral look like Sh_t now. Then when this one comes in I turn it on, the bulbs fire. but about half way into them coming on the left bulb just shuts itself off. I let them sit for 20 minutes and tried agian and it worked fine. This morning my wife turned them on and the same thing happened the left bulb went out. But instead of turning them off she left them on. I came home this afternoon and it was burning. I am expecting a call from PFO in the next 15 minutes 0n what the problem could be.. By the way I am running 1.5 month old Ushio 10K bulbs I had just bought them to run in my Hamilton ballast so I know the bulbs are fine... If you find out anything please email me @ [email protected] and If you will send me your email address I will do the same for you.. Good luck

John Wray
[email protected]

 

[Marcosreef]

Check out this site for some tips....

http://www.hidirect.com/framesets/troubleshooting.htm

 

[b2leopard]

Ok I called PFO today ,they are sending me a new ballast out and I will mail them my bad one. Tom I do believe you were right bad capacitor,they did mention that. I do greatly fear what my corals are going to look like after another week with NO lighting on them again. I have a dual shoplight that I am going to throw on so I will have 4 30 watts on my tank. Thank you for all of your replies and I will let you know what happens with both of my ballast.

 

[Anonymous]

If the bulb is firing but dying before it gets to full brightness it's not getting enough starting voltage. I'm assuming that you are running Iwasaki's on this ballast? If so, the only problem I can forsee is a bad capacitor.

Call PFO...again...